Camouflage and Deception: Danger Heat Vision

Even a well-camouflaged soldier shines like a Christmas tree through a thermal imaging device. That's why such technologies are among the greatest dangers for the men on the ground. Thermal imaging devices are able to make visible the infrared signature (heat radiation) emitted by a body. Hiding these radiation signatures is probably the most difficult task in modern camouflage. The ever-advancing development of thermal imaging technologies makes this task even more challenging.

Main Enemy: Physics

Observing at night: normal view and then with thermal imaging. The human is immediately recognizable.

The key point: Simple physics. A thermal signature is energy. What does the law of conservation of energy tell us? Exactly, energy cannot be created or destroyed. So you can put a soldier in a suit that doesn't let the heat out. However, this heat energy doesn't just disappear, the soldier will sweat profusely in such a suit.

The big challenge is to figure out what to do with the heat energy. It has to go somewhere. Basically, there are two options. Either the heat is let out or it is converted into an imperceptible signal. While there are certain substances that cool the soldier's body; they do not completely eliminate the heat signature.

This means that all attempts to deal with heat radiation are associated with high-tech. Which in turn makes it more difficult for the soldier.

A Science of its Own

For example, U.S. Army scientists are researching particles that are supposed to block infrared radiation in order to make the soldier invisible. Additionally, the US Army has ordered equipment worth millions from Fibrotex. Their "Ultra-Light Camouflage Netting System (ULCANS)" has been specifically designed to protect against night vision and thermal imaging devices, it conceals, for example, vehicles and makes their heat radiation diffuse.

Another idea currently on its way to being patented is Quantum Stealth. Special material is supposed to bend the electromagnetic light spectrum around the object to be disguised. However, the technology has not yet been publicly presented. HERE there are videos about it.

Another contribution that makes it difficult for thermal imaging to hide: in the green bush is a man whose heat signature immediately gives him away.

For the US Army, protecting soldiers from advanced technologies is of high importance. High-end camouflage technologies will therefore play an extraordinarily important role on the battlefields of the future, especially as night vision evolves. In addition to normal night vision and thermal imaging, more and more fusion devices are emerging that merge both technologies. HERE is a video of a fusion device in action.

More information on thermal imaging: BASICS: Thermal Imaging Device on SPARTANAT